I would like to say first I have never been a member of SWAT. So its just possible I'm talking out my ___. But I think the first guy on the entry team/conga line, we'll call him 1, carries a PGO. Don't get excited, the only reason he does is to blow door knobs and hinges. What I have seen of training, instructs to shoot down at a 45 degree angle to avoid, pinging juniors kid with a shotgun propelled doorknob. I think then he transistions to a handgun,and is preceded through the door by 2 and 3. Does number 1change to a handgun, because a PGO is inferior? A PGO loaded with breaching rounds only is inferior? Or because thats the way he trains?
How does the PGO compare to full stock shotgun for throwing over your shoulder, as first step to handgun transition?
I can see an advantage to a pistol grip only for door breaching. It's a specialized tool. With a narrow application. Same reason some come with a saw tooth muzzle attachment, or standoff to avoid setting off a gun plugged with door. Do any of the subsequent guys 4 thru 6 carry a full stock shotgun?
I don't know, maybe one of you SWAT guys could chime in.
In a strange coincidence I also had an oportunity, over Memorial Day weekend, to fire an 8 shot Mossberg Maverick and you guessed it PGO. He is a neighbor of my brothers, and keeps one as protection on his property in Oklahoma. His question was related to gun failures we were able to trace to some swelled shells. His practice target was a gallon milk jug at about 20 yards, and down on about a 40 degree incline, towards a little creek. I fired 2 shells, both bird shot, both connected. It proved nothing except the other box of shells were fine.
I wish I lived closer to Dave to accept his challenge. Not because I think he's wrong. Not because I think I can beat him. Only to show that the advantages with either gun, depends a lot on the application. I have brucitus in my left shoulder, so working the slide in either case, will hurt the same.
If I was to buy a plane ticket from Kansas to Maryland, rent a car and motel room, buy a PGO, and 2 cases of shells for practice and 1 for actual test. I think I could give him a run for his money. I'm sure it would be fun trying.
But you know that even if I won, you wouldn't change your mind. In the last couple weeks I have found Dave to be a fair, and mostly impartial moderator.I also know Dave feels a responsibility to give the best advice, advice that could result in someone being in the wrong place with the wrong gun. In that I absolutely agree. And that is probably a good enough reason to trump all others.